Al-Halbousi described the decision as strange, saying: There are those who seek to instability the country (Anatolia)

The Federal Supreme Court in Iraq issued a decision on Tuesday to terminate the membership of Speaker of the House of Representatives Mohammed Al-Halbousi, after a lawsuit of "forgery" filed by one of the deputies, while Halbousi described the court's decision to end his term as strange, stressing that he will ask for clarifications.

The Iraqi News Agency reported that the court decided to "terminate the membership of Speaker of the House of Representatives Mohammed al-Halbousi today, as well as the termination of the membership of MP Laith al-Dulaimi in parliament (who filed a lawsuit against al-Halbousi).

The trial began in February before the Federal Supreme Court, following a complaint filed by MP al-Dulaimi accusing the speaker of falsifying the date of a previously submitted resignation request in his name.

Dulaimi, a Sunni lawmaker who belonged to Halbousi's Taqaddam party, had earlier accused the speaker of terminating his membership as a member of parliament through an "illegal parliamentary order."

"Strange decision"

In a video posted by the House of Representatives on Facebook, Halbousi said the court's decision to end his term was "strange," adding that "there are those who seek to destabilize the country" and that he would ask for clarifications.

"We are surprised by the issuance of these decisions and the lack of respect for the constitution. We will resort to measures that preserve constitutional rights."

The Supreme Court's ruling marks another development in Iraq, which is in turmoil, where internal divisions are shaping and breaking alliances between major parties and leaders of political alliances.

The first deputy speaker of parliament is scheduled to run the legislative council until a new president is elected nominated by one of the Sunni blocs in the parliament.

Halbousi was elected speaker for the second time in January 2022, following early parliamentary elections in October 2021.

Resignation of ministers

In the fallout from the decision, three ministers resigned from the government on Tuesday evening in protest at the "targeting" of the speaker of parliament, whom the Federal Supreme Court had earlier dismissed him, according to the party to which they belong, according to the Iraqi Press Agency.

The Sunni Taqaddam party said in a statement that the resigned ministers of culture, planning and industry saw the Federal Supreme Court's decision as "a flagrant constitutional violation and a clear political target".

Source: Agencies